Automatic variable surface rudder



April 21, 1953' E. L'ICARRIER 2,635,575

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SURFACE RUDDER Filed Sept. 29, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2 SWAN/HIM EVERETT L. CARR/ER April 21, 1953 s. CARRIER AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SURFACE RUDDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1950 3mm EVERETT L. CARR/ER a. z 5 d 4 n 6 2 5 3 I? L 7 56 3 52 r a W W l: 1 l 0/ 0/ 7 I. o 7 "I w 5 .IL. 5 4 O z n 6 9/ z a H 435 5 2 M 6 6 a9 a 5 44 2 April 21, 1953' E. CARRIER AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SURFACE RUDDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1950 a M F I IE2; ,k,

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Patented Apr. 21, 1953 I 2,635,575 AUTOMATIC VARIABLE SURFACE RUDDER Everett L. Carrier, Dayton, Ohio. Application September 29, 1950, Serial No. 187,648

Claims. (01. 114-167) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to rudder apparatus and more particularly to automatic variable surface rudder apparatus. I

qAs is well known in the art, the water pressure beneath the hull of a vessel increases substantially with an'increase in speed. At high speeds a small surface, in the form of a rudder, resisting the natural flow of the water, imparts sufficient force to divert the movement of the hull to which it is attached, to another direction. Additional rudder surface in excess of the amount required at a given speed is detrimental in a number of ways. The great pressure bearing on the oversize rudder reacts through the steering system and makes the movement of a helm required for a turn an arduous task. Also, there is considerable breaking effect against the water. This breaking action may be partly responsible for loss of engine R. P. M., and occasions severe strain in the aft section of the hull.

The apparatus embodying the instant invention provides a rudder which allows maximum maneuverability from the lowest to the highest speed, by the use of a variable surface area. Preferably, the rudder surface is made in two individual sections, and a mechanism provided which, at a predetermined speed, automatically disengages the two rudders from each other and allows one rudder to swing freely in the direction of the flow of water. (In other words, one rudder section becomes neutralized, and only the other rudder section offers resistance to the flow of water.

As the boat completes a maneuver and the helm Another object is to provide new improved rudderapparatus having an automatically variabl rudder surface. a. 1

Other objects and advantages will become apparent after a consideration of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are general views of rudder mechanism constructed according to the present invention, as seen from the rear of a vessel turning in two directions at a fast speed;

Fig. 3 is a view of apparatus embodying the invention as applied to aircraft;

Fig. 4 is a general view of apparatus embodying the invention when mounted in a boat which is moving and. turning at slow speed;

Fig. 5 is a-view, partly in section, of the ap-. paratus for mounting the rudder shafts; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-45 of Fig. 5.

Particular reference is made now to thedraw ings, in which like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts, for a more complete understanding of the invention, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof. A boat, generally designated l0, has three pairs of rudders, comprising upper rudders ll, I3, and I5 and lower rudders l2, I4, and I6, respectively, the lower rudders being free, under certain conditions, to turn with changes in the direction of the flow of the water, in a manner to be presently more fully described.

' Particular reference is made now to Fig. 5, in which is shown mechanism for mounting the rudder shafts. The member 36, which is prefera-v bly supported from the hull of the boat at the rear thereof, or may be a section of the bottom of the boat, has fixed thereto a ball bearing housing generally designated 32, in which is j ournalled for rotation the collar member 31.

Mounted within the collar member is a hollow upper rudder shaft I! having a threaded end portion 21, on which is mounted an upper rudder plate 2| having the threaded aperture 26 for receiving the aforementioned threaded end 21. The plate 2| has on the underside thereof an annular protrusion 34 which is engaged by the annular groove 33 in member 32, forming a seal, and generally designated by the reference numeral 25. The plate 2| also has a lip portion 35 adjacent the aperture 26, against member 31, as shown.

In the upper side of plate 2| are two similar V-shaped grooves 28 and'29, preferably spaced 180 degrees from each other. These are adapted to receive two V-shaped dogs 49 and 50 respectively, which are provided for purposes to be hereinafter more clearly apparent.

Disposed within the bore in shaft I! is a lower rudder shaft [8, which extends up beyond the end of shaft l1, and has keyed thereto for rotation therewith, as by keys 4| and 42, a lower rudder intermediate plate 23, having an underhanging annular lip and upper collar portion 38, and having four arms extending from the upper surface thereof, two of the arms being shown in Fig. 5 and designated 30 and 3| respectively. The arms 30 and 3! have mounted in threaded apertures therein set screws 22 and 39 respectively having lock nuts 51 and 40 respectively.

Resting upon the collar portion 38 is a lower rudder arm 54, being securely held in place by and abutting nut 44 and lock nut 45 threaded on the threaded end 43 of shaft H3. The arm 54 and shaft l8 are precisely angularly positioned with respect to shaft IT by four adjusting screws, including 22 and 39, Fig. 5, and 26, Fig. 6.

The ends of arm 54 have formed integral therewith the dog supporting members 59 and 60, for mounting the aforementioned dogs 49 and 50 respectively. Details of the arrangement for mounting the dogs are shown in Fig. 6. The dog 49 is observed to be mounted in bore 41, and to have a portion of reduced diameter 5.2 on the upper end thereof for receiving the lower end of spring 48, the upper end of spring 48' being received by the portion of small diameter of screw 39 threaded into the threaded end of bore 41, and having thumb knob 24 for adjusting the tension of spring 48, and lock nut 46 for maintaining the tension at the predetermined value.

It is understood that the portion 40, Fig. 6 may, if desired, extend to form a tiller for manual operation of the rudder. Upper rudder I i, Fig. 1 may be secured to shaft I! to turn therewith, and lower rudder l2 may be secured to shaft 18 to turn therewith.

The three rudders of Figs. 1 and 2 may be ganged together, in any convenient manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In the operation of the above described apparatus, when the water pressure on the lower rudder section I2 due to turning movement of the vessel becomes sufficiently great, the arm 54- is snapped out of position above plate 2!, the dogs 49 and 50 sliding freely on the top of plate'Zl. When the turn is completed, and the rudders become substantially aligned, the dogs 49 and 5e are again seated in grooves 28 and 29 respectively by action of the aforementioned springs. Since the angular pressure exerted on rudder I2 is proportional to the speed of the vessel, the tension on the dogs may be adjusted so that the lower rudder l2 becomes free and neutralized at any preselected speed.

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the rudders i and I2 when the vessel is turning at a slow speed insufficient to cause the dogs controlling the lower rudder to be disengaged from their respective grooves.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the invention applied to aircraft, it being understood that a device, not shown, similar to the apparatus of Fig. 5, connects elevator sections 63 and 64.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible; in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

This invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In rudder apparatus of the character dis- 4 closed for use on a vessel, in combination, a first rudder shaft having a bore therein, a second rudder shaft extending through said bore and free to rotate therein, first and second rudders secured to said first and second shafts respectively, a first plate secured to said first shaft, said first plate having at least two spaced grooves therein, an arm secured to said second shaft, said arm having at least two spring-biased dogs mounted thereon engaged by said grooves respectively while the rudders are aligned, said dogs constituting the sole attachment between the arm and plate whereby said plate, arm, and dogs provide an arrangement for releasing said second rudder to turn freely with the current when said vessel turns after attaining a predetermined speed, and means connected to said plate for turning the same, to steer the vessel.

2. In the steering system of a vessel having a control surface submerged in the supporting fluid whereina relatively large effective area is desirable at low speeds and undesirable at high speeds, means to automatically reduce the effective area of the control surface at a predetermined rate of speed comprising, a main shaft connected to the vessels steering apparatus, a first portion control surface fixed to said main shaft, a second portion control surface supported by said first portion and normally coplanar therewith, a connection between said control surfaces, and release means in the connection including resilient means interposed between the portions and arranged to release said second portion from movement with said first portion by the pressure of the supporting fluid on said second portion at high speeds.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 in which said release means includes grooves and the resilient means includes spring-biased dogs engageable in said grooves to releasably retain said first and second portions in co-planar position.

4. The device as set forth in claim 2 in which said main shaft has a bore and said second portion control surface is supported on said first portion by a second shaft positioned in said bore.

5. The device as set forth in claim 2 in which a plate is fixed to said main shaft and has radial grooves therein, a second shaft to which said second portion control surface is connected, at least one arm attached to said second shaft adjacent said plate, a dog movably supported by said arm and biased to be restrained from movement from one of said grooves, and means for adjusting the biasing restraint of said dog.

EVERETT L. CARRIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

